Shoe-protector.



A. EGKHARD, J11. SHOE PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED HA3. 9, 1908.

900,499. I Patented Oct. 6,1908.

ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST EGKHARD, JR., on NEW YORK, N. Y.

sHoE-rRoTEcToR.

Specification of Letters Patent.-

Patented Oct. 6, 1908.

Application filed March 9, 1908. Serial No. 419,928.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUST Ecxnaizn, J r., a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Protectors, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates more particularly.

to a protector for the upper part of shoes and the like.

In certain occupations, as for example, barkeepers, attendants at sodawater fountains, and others where beer, sodawater and other liquids are dispensed there is a certain amount of waste, and this waste or dripping in dispensing the liquids will fall upon the shoes and become dry and hard and will cause the leather of the uppers to crack. The effect of such liquids also is to soon destroy the appearance of the. shoe, and it is desirable not only to protect the appearance of the shoe, but also the wearing qualities thereof without discomfort to the wearer as would be the case if the shoe were entirely covered by the protector.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a simple and eflicient device which may be worn over the shoe so as to protect the upper part thereof without entirely, inclosing the shoe or covering the sole thereof, and thus avoid interfering with the comfort of the wearer while using the protector in his place of business, and at thesame time protecting the uppers of the shoe from comlng in contact with liquid or other material that might harden the shoe whereby the life, of the shoe is materially increased and .the original appearance of the shoe preserved.

. A further object of the invention is to provide means for holding the device in position so that it may be quickly removed from .the shoe, and which has a part thereof so made that it will engage under the toe of the sole in sucha way as not to be injuriously aflected by wear.

With these and other objects in view, the invention will be hereinafter more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form -a part of this specification, and will then be pointed out in the claim at the end ofthe description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the device showing its application to a shoe. Fig. 3 is a perspective view, partly broken away, showing how the device may be made adjustable: and Fig. l shows a fragmentary sectional View of a different form of toe.

The device 10 may be of'rubber or any suitable material, though preferably it should be of such a nature as to be impervious to water, and said device has the upper or body portion 11 which is adapted to fit over and conform to the shape of the upper of the shoe in substantially the same way as with the ordinary over-shoe, and said body portion may be of any desired length to toe thereof so as to hold the upper in place.

and said tip portion 13 is preferably made of such a length that it will not come in contact with the floor or ground but rest snugly against the curved tip of the shoe sole. transversely extending strap or retaining part 14 of any desired width extends across the device, and this strap may be formed integral with the body or upper 11 and is adapted to engage under the instep of the shoe when worn so as to further hold the device in. its proper position. The part or strap 14 and the tip 13 have an opening 15 between them so that substantially the entire sole of the shoe exposed, as it would be uncomfortable to wear an entirely closed device indoors continuously while working. and it dispensing the liquids than if the rubber or protector entirely inclosed the sole.

The device may have an integral continuous band or strap 16, as in Figs. 1 and 2, which is adapted'to fit around the heel of the shoe, so that with the part 14 and the tip 13 the said device will be properly held in position; or said strap or belt may be divided as in Fig. 3, and. one member, as at 17, provided with a buckle, and the other member 18 with openings therein so that said strap or belt may be adjusted to fit different lengths of shoes. 1

' In Fig. 4 the upper or body portion 11 is provided with an opening or slot 19 at the toe thereof, and in this slot is held one end 20 of the metal tip 21. This tip 21 is substantially angular and has the member 20 curved to conform to the shape of the toe'ot' the shoe and the member or part 22 adapted to engage the under surface of the sole. This metallic tip 21 avoids the necessity 0' having any rubber or similar material under the sole of the shoe and serves better in case of wear. v

If desired the device may be made with ribs under the inner surface of the same which extend lengthwise thereof on the inner surface of the body portion sothat air spaces may be provided between the rubber inc-losing surface and the shoe to prevent too much heating of the foot of the wearer.

From the foregoingit willbe seen that simple and efiicient means is provided whereby the uppers of shoes may be protected from injurious liquids and other material that is apt to affect the wearing qualities of the shoe without entirely coveringthe foot so that proper circulation of air may be provided; that said device may be cheaply made and easily Worn or removed from the shoe; and that said device may be made adjustable.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent A shoe protector having a body portion, a strap adapted to fit around the rear of the shoe, a short angular metallic tip having one part thereof embedded within the body portion and the other part extendin inward and adapted to engage under the sole of the shoe, and a narrow integral part extending transversely of the strap and adapted to engage under the instep of the shoe and to provide an open space between the tip and said transverse part for the sole.

This specification signed and witnessed this seventh day of March A. D. 1908.

AUGUST ECKHARD, JR.

Witnesses M. TURNER, H. LINEHAM. 

